Block



(No M6661.) 'I'. H. GRIGG.

TOY'BUILDING BLOCK.

No. 649,646; Y

Paten-'ted sept. 21, 1886.

lNv-ENTCH--l Vfwl'r-NEESE'E.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`THOMAS H. GRIGG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES H. FROST, OF SAME PLACE.

TOY BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of -Letters Patent No. 3495.646, dated September 21, 1886.

Application filed Api-i130, 1886. Serial No. 200,687. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GRIGG, a citizen' of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in, Toy Building-Blocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figures 1, 2, and 3 are perspectives of diferent sizes of blocks embodying my improvement.

My improvements have reference to the toy building-blocks for which Letters Patent of the United States dated March. 4, 1884, No. 294,607, were granted to Chas. W. Frost.

My improvements have for their object to improve the construction and simplify the cost of the joint whereby said blocks are connected to each other. In said patent the joint is obtained by forming notches in the edges of the sides and end pieces of the blocks.

" My invention consists in the provision of a toy building-block consisting of a hollow rectangular block having four sides and a top piece, said top piece having intersecting grooves eX- tending from edge to edge thereof at right angles to each other, forming multiple squares or panels-adapted to receive the lower edges of other corresponding blocks.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a whole block, Fig. 2 a

3 5 half-sized block, and Fig. 3 aquarter-sized block, constructed with my improvements.

In each block A-there is fitted a plateor top f piece, B, which is scored or grooved longitudinally in the whole and half sizes, and also transversely, as shown at C and D, thereby forming squares or panels E E. The outer edges of these projections should be somewhat within the vertical line of the inner side of each of the walls of the blocks, so as to permit free play, and the grooves should be somewhat wider than twice the thickness of the walls of the blocks, in order to prevent binding of the parts,and to permit the ready fitting together.

In fitting the blocks together to form the structure the lower edges of the blocks are 5c caused to enter the grooves in the top plateor plates of the block or blocks below. Said top piece may be secured in position by any suitable means in the blocks-as by glue or pinj ning.

I am aware of the fact that building-blocks have been made in which the upper side was grooved from edge to edge, said grooves being at or near the extreme edges of the block, and I do not, therefore, broadly claim a building- 6 block having grooves upon its upper side; but where these blocks are employed it is not possible to break joints, as is possible with my improved block.

What I claim as my invent-ion is- A hollow rectangular building-block having four sides and a top piece fitted therein, said top piece having intersect-ing grooves eX- tending from edge to edge thereof at right angles to each other, forming multiple squares or 7( panels, and adapted and designed to receive the lower edges of other corresponding blocks, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of 7g April, 1886.

THOMAS H. GRIGG.

Witnesses: l

WILL I-I. POWELL, R. DALE SPARHAWK.

It is hereby eertified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 349,64( granted September 2l, 1886, upon the application of Thomas H. Grigg, of Phil: delphia, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Toy Building Blocks, was erroneousll written and printed Charles H. Frostg that said name should have been Written am printed Charles W. Frost and that lthe said Letters Patent should be read with thi correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Paten Oee. Y

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 28th day 0f September, A. D. 1886.

[SEAL] H. L. MULDROW,

I Acting Secretary of the Interior Gountersigned:

R. B. VANCE,

Aottng Commissioner of Patents. 

